DOCSLIB.ORG

The Impact of Climate on Surging at Donjek Glacier

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Impact of Climate on Surging at Donjek Glacier The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-72 Manuscript under review for journal The Cryosphere Discussion started: 17 April 2019 c Author(s) 2019. CC BY 4.0 License. 1 The Impact of Climate on Surging at Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada 2 3 William Kochtitzky1,2, Dominic Winski1,2, Erin McConnell1,2, Karl Kreutz1,2, Seth Campbell1,2, 4 Ellyn M. Enderlin1,2,3, Luke Copland4, Scott Williamson4, Brittany Main4, Christine Dow5, 5 Hester Jiskoot6 6 7 1School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA 8 2Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA 9 3Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA 10 4Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, 11 Canada 12 5Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, 13 ON, Canada 14 6Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada 15 16 Correspondence to: William Kochtitzky ([email protected]) 17 Abstract. Links between climate and glacier surges are not well understood, but are required to 18 enable prediction of glacier surges and mitigation of associated hazards. Here, we investigate the 19 role of snow accumulation and temperature on surge periodicity, glacier area changes, and 20 timing of surge initiation since the 1930s for Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada. Snow 21 accumulation measured in three ice cores collected at Eclipse Icefield, at the head of the glacier, 22 indicate that a cumulative accumulation of 13.1-17.7 m w.e. of snow occurred in the 10-12 years 23 between each of its last eight surges. This suggests that a cumulative accumulation threshold 24 must be passed before the initiation of a surge event, although it remains unclear whether the 25 relationship between cumulative snowfall and surging is due to the consistency in repeat surge 26 interval and decadal average precipitation, or if it is indeed a prerequisite to surging. We also 27 examined the 1968 to 2017 climate record from Burwash Landing, 30 km from the glacier, to 28 determine whether a relationship exists between surge periodicity and an increase of 2.5°C in 29 mean annual air temperature over this period. No such relationship was found, although each of 30 the past 8 surge events has been less extensive than the previous, with the terminus area 31 approximately 7.96 km2 smaller after the 2012-2014 surge event compared to the ~1947 surge 32 event. This study shows that the impacts of climate and surging is not yet understood and 33 suggests that internal glacier processes may play a more important role in controlling glacier 34 surge events. 35 36 1. Introduction 1 The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-72 Manuscript under review for journal The Cryosphere Discussion started: 17 April 2019 c Author(s) 2019. CC BY 4.0 License. 37 Surge-type glaciers account for ~1% of glaciers globally (Sevestre and Benn, 2015), but can be 38 the dominant glacier type in some regions (e.g., Clarke et al., 1986; Jiskoot et al., 2003), and are 39 important for understanding ice flow instabilities and anomalous glacier response to climate 40 change (Yde and Paasche, 2010). Surge-type glaciers have long periods of flow at rates below 41 their balance velocity (quiescent phase), typically on the order of decades, which are interrupted 42 by short-lived phases of glacier flow at rates much higher than the balance velocity (active phase 43 or surge phase), typically on the order of months to years, that are driven by internal instabilities 44 and sometimes lead to a marked frontal advance (Meier and Post, 1969; Clarke, 1987). When a 45 glacier surges, its reservoir zone at higher elevations loses mass and its receiving zone at lower 46 elevations gains mass, with the line of zero net mass change defined as the dynamic balance line 47 (DBL: Dolgoushin and Osipova, 1975). When mass gain in the receiving zone leads to a 48 significant advance of the terminus, an increased calving flux or other proglacial hazards can 49 occur. 50 Surges of temperate glaciers are typically hypothesized to initiate when a critical basal 51 shear stress is reached in a surge initiation region, causing the subglacial hydrologic system to 52 reorganize and the glacier to rapidly redistribute its accumulated mass down-glacier (Meier and 53 Post, 1969; Raymond, 1987; Eisen et al., 2005). While this hydrologic mechanism dominates 54 Yukon-Alaska type surging, a thermal triggering mechanism (i.e., surging controlled by basal ice 55 temperature), or combined hydro-thermodynamic mechanism, has been documented in surges of 56 polar and polythermal glaciers, such as those in Svalbard and smaller glaciers in Yukon-Alaska 57 (Murray et al., 2003; Frappé and Clarke, 2007; De Paoli and Flowers, 2009; Dunse et al., 2015). 58 Finally, overarching theories related to balance flux (Budd, 1975) and enthalpy (Sevestre et al., 59 2015) have been proposed as well. 60 The length of a surge cycle (i.e., combined quiescent and active phases) is typically 61 consistent for an individual glacier, and is proportional to the length of the surge phase (Meier 62 and Post, 1969; Dowdeswell and others, 1991). In turn, quiescence duration is controlled by 63 mass balance conditions (Robin and Weertman, 1973), meaning that surge periodicity is 64 inversely related to accumulation rates (Dyurgerov et al., 1985; Osipova and Tsvetkov, 1991; 65 Dowdeswell et al., 1991). Prolonged quiescent phases (decades to centuries) typical of the 66 Svalbard region have been ascribed to low accumulation rates, often only on the order of 0.3-0.6 67 m a-1 (Dowdeswell et al., 1995), while short repeat intervals (12-20 years) on Variegated Glacier, 2 The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-72 Manuscript under review for journal The Cryosphere Discussion started: 17 April 2019 c Author(s) 2019. CC BY 4.0 License. 68 AK, correspond to accumulation rates on the order of 1.4 m a-1 (Eisen et al., 2001; Van Geffen 69 and Oerlemans, 2017). However, there can be large variations in surge periodicity between 70 glaciers in the same region. For example, Icelandic glaciers have irregular quiescent intervals, 5- 71 30 years for some glaciers and up to 100-140 for others (Björnsson et al., 2003: Sigurdsson, 72 2005). 73 Changes in surge recurrence interval has been linked to changing cumulative mass 74 balance (Dowdeswell et al., 1995; Copland et al., 2011; Eisen et al., 2001; Striberger et al., 75 2011). Dowdeswell et al. (1995) found a persistent negative mass balance reduced the glacier 76 surge activity in Svalbard. Conversely, an increase in precipitation and positive glacier mass 77 balance on Karakoram glaciers is associated with an elevated number of surge events, although it 78 is unclear whether the increase in accumulation (Copland et al., 2011) or increase in intense 79 short-term melting periods Hewitt (2007) drove the increase in surging. Eisen et al. (2001) 80 reported a variable surge recurrence interval that was consistent with changing amounts of 81 precipitation on Variegated Glacier, Alaska. Similarly, Striberger et al. (2011) found a variable 82 surge repeat interval at Eyjabakkajökull, Iceland associated with changes in climatically-driven 83 mass balance. 84 Previous efforts to examine connections between cumulative snow accumulation and 85 length of the quiescent phase have used mass balance models, off-ice meteorological 86 measurements, and a limited record of in situ mass balance measurements (Eisen et al., 2001; 87 Tangborn, 2013; Dyurgerov et al., 1985). Although these studies found that a snow accumulation 88 threshold had to be reached before each surge started, this potential linkage has not yet been 89 tested with observations of glacier surface mass balance. Here, we use the well-documented 90 history of surge events at Donjek Glacier (Abe et al., 2016; Kochtitzky et al., In Review; Fig. 1), 91 and ice cores extracted from Eclipse Icefield at the head of the glacier (Wake et al., 2002; Yalcin 92 et al., 2006; Kelsey et al., 2012), to explore linkages between snow accumulation and surging 93 since the 1930s. We combine these observations with weather station records, digital elevation 94 models, and remote sensing analysis to examine the impacts of climate and ice kinematics on 95 surge behavior. The combination of data from eight surge events and three independent ice core 96 records in the accumulation zone, make Donjek Glacier an ideal site to test the influence of 97 climate on surge behavior. 3 The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-72 Manuscript under review for journal The Cryosphere Discussion started: 17 April 2019 c Author(s) 2019. CC BY 4.0 License. 98 99 Figure 1. (a) Donjek Glacier (blue outline; RGI Consortium, 2017), with Eclipse Icefield marked 100 with the yellow star and Donjek River in light blue. Black line indicates the separation between 101 the downglacier surge-type and upglacier non-surge-type portions of the glacier. Green box 102 indicates extent of Figure 7a. (b) Location of Donjek Glacier in southwestern Yukon; red box 103 indicates extent of a. Base image from Landsat 8, 23 September, 2017. 104 105 2. Study Site 106 Donjek Glacier (61°11'N, 139°31'W; Figure 1) is a surge-type glacier located in southwest 107 Yukon in the St. Elias Mountains. In 2010, Donjek Glacier was 65 km long with a surface area 108 of 448 km2 (RGI Consortium, 2017). While the Tlingit indigenous peoples of the Yukon were 109 the first to observe Donjek Glacier surge (Cruikshank, 1981), the first scientific records are from 110 1937 in the form of Bradford Washburn’s air photos (https://library.uaf.edu/washburn/).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Recent Surge Behavior of Walsh Glacier Revealed by Remote Sensing Data
    sensors Article Recent Surge Behavior of Walsh Glacier Revealed by Remote Sensing Data Xiyou Fu 1,2 and Jianmin Zhou 1,* 1 Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China; [email protected] 2 College of Resoures and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 23 November 2019; Accepted: 22 January 2020; Published: 28 January 2020 Abstract: Many surge-type glaciers are present on the St. Elias Mountains, but a detailed study on the surge behavior of the glaciers is still missing. In this study, we used remote sensing data to reveal detailed glacier surge behavior, focusing on the recent surge at Walsh Glacier, which was reported to have surged once in the 1960s. Glacial velocities were derived using a cross-correlation algorithm, and changes in the medial moraines were interpreted based on Landsat images. The digital elevation model (DEM) difference method was applied to Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) DEMs to evaluate the surface elevation of the glacier. The results showed that the surge initiated near the conjunction of the eastern and northern branches, and then quickly spread downward. The surge period was almost three years, with an active phase of less than two years. The advancing speed of the surge front was much large than the maximum ice velocity of 14 m/d observed during the active phase. Summer speed-ups and a winter speed-up in ≈ ice velocity were observed from velocity data, with the speed-ups being more obvious during the active phase.
    [Show full text]
  • Of the Tasman Glacier
    1 ICE DYNAMICS OF THE HAUPAPA/TASMAN GLACIER MEASURED AT HIGH SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL RESOLUTION, AORAKI/MOUNT COOK, NEW ZEALAND A THESIS Presented to the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences Victoria University of Wellington In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTERS OF SCIENCE By Edmond Anderson Lui, B.Sc., GradDipEnvLaw Wellington, New Zealand October, 2016 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS SIGNATURE PAGE .................................................................................................................... TITLE PAGE ............................................................................................................................................... 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................... 2 LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... 5 LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... 9 LIST OF EQUATIONS ...........................................................................................................................10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................11 MOTIVATIONS ........................................................................................................................................12
    [Show full text]
  • Surge Dynamics on Bering Glacier, Alaska, in 2008–2011
    The Cryosphere, 6, 1251–1262, 2012 www.the-cryosphere.net/6/1251/2012/ The Cryosphere doi:10.5194/tc-6-1251-2012 © Author(s) 2012. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Surge dynamics on Bering Glacier, Alaska, in 2008–2011 E. W. Burgess1, R. R. Forster1, C. F. Larsen2, and M. Braun3 1Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 2Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA 3Department of Geography, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany Correspondence to: E. W. Burgess ([email protected]) Received: 21 February 2012 – Published in The Cryosphere Discuss.: 21 March 2012 Revised: 10 October 2012 – Accepted: 12 October 2012 – Published: 7 November 2012 Abstract. A surge cycle of the Bering Glacier system, exhibit flow speeds 10–100 times quiescent flow; they are Alaska, is examined using observations of surface veloc- relatively short, lasting from months to years, and can initi- ity obtained using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) offset ate and terminate rapidly (Cuffey and Paterson, 2010). The tracking, and elevation data obtained from the University quiescent phase lasts decades, over which the glacier devel- of Alaska Fairbanks LiDAR altimetry program. After 13 yr ops a steeper geometry that triggers another surge event. The of quiescence, the Bering Glacier system began to surge in time required for the glacier geometry to steepen during qui- May 2008 and had two stages of accelerated flow. During escence dictates the duration of the quiescent phase and the the first stage, flow accelerated progressively for at least 10 surge cycle overall (Meier and Post, 1969; Raymond, 1987; months and reached peak observed velocities of ∼ 7 m d−1.
    [Show full text]
  • Characteristics of the Last Five Surges of Lowell Glacier, Yukon, Canada, Since 1948
    Journal of Glaciology, Vol. 60, No. 219, 2014 doi: 10.3189/2014JoG13J134 113 Characteristics of the last five surges of Lowell Glacier, Yukon, Canada, since 1948 Alexandre BEVINGTON, Luke COPLAND Department of Geography, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. Field observations, aerial photographs and satellite images are used to reconstruct the past surges of Lowell Glacier, Yukon, Canada, since 1948 based on the timing of terminus advances. A total of five surges occurred over this time, each with a duration of 1±2 years. The time between successive surges ranged from 12 to 20 years, and appears to have been shortening over time. The relatively short advance and quiescent phases of Lowell Glacier, together with rapid increases in velocity during surges, suggest that the surging is controlled by a hydrological switch. The 2009±10 surge saw ablation area velocities increase by up to two orders of magnitude from quiescent velocities, and the terminus increase in area by 5.1 km2 and in length by up to 2.85 km. This change in area was the smallest since 1948, and follows the trend of decreasing surge extents over time. This decrease is likely driven by a strongly negative surface mass balance of Lowell Glacier since at least the 1970s, and means that the current town site of Haines Junction is very unlikely to be flooded by damming caused by any future advances of the glacier under the current climate regime. KEYWORDS: glacier flow, glacier mass balance, glacier surges, remote sensing 1. INTRODUCTION this mechanism, it is hypothesized that the glacier is frozen to The Yukon±Alaska border hosts the highest concentration of its bed when ice is thin, but that the bed reaches the pressure- surge-type glaciers in North America, with 136 out of the melting point when the ice thickens due to increased 204 surge-type glaciers identified in western North America insulation from low atmospheric temperatures.
    [Show full text]
  • Decadal Region-Wide and Glacier-Wide Mass Balances Derived from Multi-Temporal ASTER Satellite Digital Elevation Models
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 07 June 2016 doi: 10.3389/feart.2016.00063 Decadal Region-Wide and Glacier-Wide Mass Balances Derived from Multi-Temporal ASTER Satellite Digital Elevation Models. Validation over the Mont-Blanc Area Etienne Berthier 1*, Vincent Cabot 1, Christian Vincent 2, 3 and Delphine Six 2, 3 1 Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales, Université de Toulouse, CNES, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IRD, UPS, Toulouse, France, 2 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, LGGE, Grenoble, France, 3 Université Grenoble Alpes, LGGE, Grenoble, France Since 2000, a vast archive of stereo-images has been built by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) satellite. Several studies already extracted glacier mass balances from multi-temporal ASTER digital elevation models (DEMs) but they lacked accurate independent data for validation. Here, we apply a linear Edited by: regression to a time series of 3D-coregistered ASTER DEMs to estimate the rate of Francisco José Navarro, surface elevation changes (dh/dtASTER) and geodetic mass balances of Mont-Blanc Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, glaciers (155 km2) between 2000 and 2014. Validation using field and spaceborne Spain geodetic measurements reveals large errors at the individual pixel level (>1 m a−1) and Reviewed by: −1 2 Matthias Holger Braun, an accuracy of 0.2–0.3 m a for dh/dtASTER averaged over areas larger than 1 km . Friedrich-Alexander-Universität For all Mont-Blanc glaciers, the ASTER region-wide mass balance [–1.05 ± 0.37 m Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany −1 Mauro Fischer, water equivalent (w.e.) a ] agrees remarkably with the one measured using Spot5 and − University of Fribourg, Switzerland Pléiades DEMs (–1.06 ± 0.23 m w.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Surge Dynamics in the Nathorstbreen Glacier System
    Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | The Cryosphere Discuss., 7, 4937–4976, 2013 Open Access www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/7/4937/2013/ The Cryosphere TCD doi:10.5194/tcd-7-4937-2013 Discussions © Author(s) 2013. CC Attribution 3.0 License. 7, 4937–4976, 2013 This discussion paper is/has been under review for the journal The Cryosphere (TC). Surge dynamics in Please refer to the corresponding final paper in TC if available. the Nathorstbreen glacier system Surge dynamics in the Nathorstbreen M. Sund et al. glacier system, Svalbard Title Page M. Sund1,2, T. R. Lauknes3, and T. Eiken4 Abstract Introduction 1Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, P.O. Box 5091 Majorstuen, 0301 Oslo, Norway Conclusions References 2University Centre in Svalbard, P.O. Box 156, 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway 3Norut P.O. Box 6434 Forskningsparken, 9294 Tromsø, Norway Tables Figures 4University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway J I Received: 5 September 2013 – Accepted: 21 September 2013 – Published: 8 October 2013 Correspondence to: M. Sund ([email protected]) J I Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. Back Close Full Screen / Esc Printer-friendly Version Interactive Discussion 4937 Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Abstract TCD Nathorstbreen glacier system (NGS) recently experienced the largest surge in Svalbard since 1936, and is examined using spatial and temporal observations from DEM differ- 7, 4937–4976, 2013 encing, time-series of surface velocities from satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) 5 and other sources. The upper basins with maximum accumulation during quiescence Surge dynamics in correspond to regions of initial lowering.
    [Show full text]
  • Improved Estimates of Glacier Change Rates at Nevado Coropuna Ice Cap, Peru
    Journal of Glaciology (2018), 64(244) 175–184 doi: 10.1017/jog.2018.2 © The Author(s) 2018. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Improved estimates of glacier change rates at Nevado Coropuna Ice Cap, Peru WILLIAM H. KOCHTITZKY,1,2,3 BENJAMIN R. EDWARDS,3 ELLYN M. ENDERLIN,1,2 JERSY MARINO,4 NELIDA MARINQUE4 1School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA 2Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA 3Department of Earth Sciences, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, USA 4Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET, Arequipa, Perú Correspondence: William Kochtitzky <[email protected]> ABSTRACT. Accurate quantification of rates of glacier mass loss is critical for managing water resources and for assessing hazards at ice-clad volcanoes, especially in arid regions like southern Peru. In these regions, glacier and snow melt are crucial dry season water resources. In order to verify previously reported rates of ice area decline at Nevado Coropuna in Peru, which are anomalously rapid for tropical glaciers, we measured changes in ice cap area using 259 Landsat images acquired from 1980 to 2014. We find that Coropuna Ice Cap is presently the most extensive ice mass in the tropics, with an area of − − 44.1 km2, and has been shrinking at an average area loss rate of 0.409 km2 a 1 (∼0.71% a 1) since − 1980.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial Patterns in Glacier Area and Elevation Changes from 1962 to 2006
    Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | The Cryosphere Discuss., 8, 3949–3998, 2014 www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/8/3949/2014/ doi:10.5194/tcd-8-3949-2014 TCD © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. 8, 3949–3998, 2014 This discussion paper is/has been under review for the journal The Cryosphere (TC). Spatial patterns in Please refer to the corresponding final paper in TC if available. glacier area and elevation changes Spatial patterns in glacier area and from 1962 to 2006 elevation changes from 1962 to 2006 in A. Racoviteanu et al. the monsoon-influenced eastern Himalaya Title Page 1 1,2 3 4 A. Racoviteanu , Y. Arnaud , M. Williams , and W. F. Manley Abstract Introduction 1Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, 54, rue Molière, Domaine Conclusions References Universitaire, BP 96 38402, Saint Martin d’Hères cedex, France Tables Figures 2Laboratoire d’étude des Transferts en Hydrologie et Environnement, BP 53 38401, Saint Martin d’Hères cedex, France 3Department of Geography and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of J I Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA 4Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA J I Back Close Received: 2 April 2014 – Accepted: 15 April 2014 – Published: 18 July 2014 Correspondence to: A. Racoviteanu ([email protected]) Full Screen / Esc Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. Printer-friendly Version Interactive Discussion 3949 Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Discussion Paper | Abstract TCD This study presents spatial patterns in glacier area and elevation changes in the monsoon-influenced part of the Himalaya (eastern Nepal and Sikkim) at multiple 8, 3949–3998, 2014 spatial scales.
    [Show full text]
  • SAGARMATHA Snow and Glacier Aspects of Water Resources Management in the Himalayas
    SAGARMATHA Snow and Glacier aspects of Water Resources Management in the Himalayas Final Technical Report: Volume 2 An assessment of the impacts of deglaciation on the water resources of the Himalaya by Gwyn Rees1 and David N Collins2 1Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, W allingford, UK 2Alpine Glacier Project, University of Salford, UK June 2004 SAGARMATHA Snow and Glacier aspects of W ater Resources Management in the Himalayas DFID KAR Project No. R7980 Final Technical Report: Volume 2 An assessment of the impacts of deglaciation on the water resources of the Himalaya by Gwyn Rees1 and David N Collins2 1Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, W allingford, UK 2Alpine Glacier Project, University of Salford, UK June 2004 This report is an official document prepared under contract between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Natural Environment Research Council. It should not be quoted without permission of both the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and DFID. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Crowmarsh Gifford W allingford Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB Tel: +44 (0)1491 838800 Fax: +44 (0)1491 692424 Contents Contents..........................................................................................................................i Executive Summary..................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements......................................................................................................vii 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • Remote Sensing of Mountain Glaciers and Permafrost Creep
    Herausgeber: Prof. Dr. Wilfried Haeberli, Prof. Dr. Max Maisch Dieser Beitrag basiert auf einer Arbeit, die von der Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Zürich im Sommersemester 2004 aufgrund der Gutachten von Prof. Dr. W. Haeberli (Universität Zürich), Prof. Dr. M. Bishop (Universität von Nebraska in Omaha), Prof. Dr. R. Dikau (Universität Bonn), und Dr. B. Bindschadler (NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland) als Habilitation angenommen wurde. Für den Inhalt des Textes und der Illustrationen ist der Autor/die Autorin allein verantwortlich. Die Herausgeber. ISBN 3 85543 244 9 © Geographisches Institut der Universität Zürich, 2005 Bezugsadresse: Geographisches Institut der Universität Zürich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich Fax: +41 (0)1 635 68 48 E-mail: [email protected] Druck: Stiftung Zentralstelle der Studentenschaft der Universität Zürich Titelbild: Section of the Bhutanese Himalayas taken from the Advanced Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) onboard the TERRA satellite. Image courtesy of EROS data center, NASA/ GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and the US/Japan ASTER science team. Summary At present, monitoring of mountain glaciers and permafrost creep is being confronted with new challenges. High-mountain natural systems that involve surface and sub-surface ice change with rates which are with no historical precedences. Monitoring and decision strategies have to respond to this rapid evolution. New earth observation technologies in combination with geoinformatics have to be adapted or to be developed for glacier and rockglacier monitoring. Permafrost monitoring has to become an integrated part of the global terrestrial observation networks, like glacier monitoring is since many decades. In this work, an overview is provided of, for the most part, optical air- and spaceborne remote sensing methods, which are suitable for the investigation of mountain glaciers and permafrost creep.
    [Show full text]
  • Programme Guide [PDF]
    IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society · https://grss-ieee.org/ Contents Welcome from the General Chairs ..........................................................................................2 Sponsors & Exhibitors ................................................................................................................3 Plenary Speakers .......................................................................................................................7 Organizing Committee ..............................................................................................................8 Technical Program Committee ...............................................................................................11 Theme Coordinators ..................................................................................................11 Session Organizers ....................................................................................................12 Invited Session Organizers ........................................................................................13 Reviewers ...................................................................................................................14 Student Paper Competition ....................................................................................................20 IGARSS 2019 Technical Program .........................................................................................21 1 2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium · Virtual · Brussels,
    [Show full text]
  • Glaciers of North America— GLACIERS of CANADA
    Glaciers of North America— GLACIERS OF CANADA GLACIERS OF THE ARCTIC ISLANDS GLACIERS OF THE HIGH ARCTIC ISLANDS By ROY M. KOERNER SATELLITE IMAGE ATLAS OF GLACIERS OF THE WORLD Edited by RICHARD S. WILLIAMS, Jr., and JANE G. FERRIGNO U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1386–J–1 Canadian High Arctic ice caps, both dynamic and stagnant, respond only very slowly to changes in climate. Ice cores contain records of environmental change during the past 100 thousand years, temperatures ranging from –20º C to +2.5º C. The last 150 years have been the warmest in the past 1,000 years, but only slight changes in area and volume (mass-balance) of ice caps are evident CONTENTS Page Abstract ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- J111 History of Glacier Research --------------------------------------------------- 111 FIGURE 1. Index map of the Canadian High Arctic islands ---------------- 112 The Ice Caps and Glaciers ----------------------------------------------------- 113 Dynamic Ice Caps and Outlet Glaciers -------------------------------- 113 FIGURE 2. Landsat 3 MSS image showing the western part of Devon Ice Cap on 10 August 1979 --------------------------------------- 114 3. Vertical aerial photograph taken in 1959 of Sverdrup Glacier on the northwest side of Devon Ice Cap --------------------- 115 4. Landsat 1 MSS false-color composite image of southwestern Ellesmere Island and part of northwestern Devon Island on 22 August 1974 ----------------------------------------------- 116 Topography ------------------------------------------------------------- 113 FIGURE 5. Landsat 1 MSS false-color composite image mosaic of the Prince of Wales Icefield and part of the Manson Icefield, central and southeastern Ellesmere Island on 20 and 22 August 1974 -------------------------------------------------- 117 6. Ice-thickness profiles measured by radio-echosounding in April-May 1976 ----------------------------------------------- 118 7.
    [Show full text]